Echoes of the High Tang: The Priceless Jiuxiaohuanpei Guqin

Crafted during the High Tang Dynasty by the legendary Lei family, Jiuxiaohuanpei （九霄环佩）is a Fuxi-style guqin currently housed in the Palace Museum.

Measuring 124 cm in length, this masterpiece features a highly resonant paulownia wood soundboard and a durable cedar base. The body is coated in lustrous purple lacquer with vermillion repairs, distinguished by delicate serpentine crackle patterns over a deer antler plaster base.

Its acoustic brilliance stems from oval soundholes paired with a uniquely grooved, raised sound-amplifying node (纳音). The instrument is opulently adorned with mother-of-pearl markers, rosewood components, and exquisitely carved white jade feet. Engraved with historical inscriptions by literary giants like Su Shi(苏轼) and Huang Tingjian(黄庭坚), this priceless artifact was formally acquired by the museum in 1952, standing as a monumental testament to China's musical heritage.